Discovered by Neville Coleman in 2008 off the coast of the island of Mabul in Malaysia, it was formally described by Marta Pola and Terrence Gosliner in 2012 and named in honour of its discoverer.

As opposed to the sail shaped rhinoporal sheaths with numerous papillae on the related species.

[4][7] The body of Melibe colemani is translucent, with its internal organs visible to the naked eye.

At initial glance, the front and the back of the sea slug are indistinguishable, with the anterior end noticeable through the net-shaped mouth.

[5] The net-like oral hood of the nudibranch serves as its mouth, and it swallows prey whole, like other members of the family Tethydidae.

[9][3][6] Melibe colemani is native to the saltwater seas of Southeast Asia, throughout the Coral Triangle region.

[6] Melibe colemani is found in warm marine waters, with one sighting in waters of 28 °C (82 °F) in temperature and 10 metres (33 ft) in depth,[5] and is often found near coral rubble of the genus Xenia, which serves as a possible food source for the sea slug.